The Socceroos have kicked off a new era with a thrilling 3-1 victory over world number 41 Ecuador in Sydney, winning their first match since the historic success of the 2022 World Cup to the delight of just over 20,000 fans at Commbank Stadium.

In a gritty and hard-ought clash that had referee Kim Dae Yong intervening frequently – and nearly boiled over into a brawl in stoppage time – the Socceroos benefited from two very lucky decisions, scoring twice despite apparent offsides (and with no VAR in place to over-rule the on-field rulings).

Veteran midfielder Jackson Irvine opened the scoring from a Mitch Duke cut-back before the Australians were pegged back. Irvine poached the ball from defender Piero Hincape to tee up Awer Mabil and regain the lead in the first half, before 18-year-old substitute Garang Kuol tapped home a third to seal victory in the dying stages of the clash.

It was the prodigiously talented Kuol’s first international goal, making him the fourth-youngest Socceroos scorer in history.

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While this clash and Tuesday’s rematch with the South Americans are being heralded as the ‘Welcome Home Series’ to celebrate Australia’s World Cup performance – and all-but-one of the starters went to Qatar – there was a clear eye on the future as Graham Arnold handed out two debuts.

The first was Melbourne City’s midfielder Aiden O’Neill, who started the match. 24-year-old O’Neill has enjoyed a brilliant season with Melbourne City, scoring three times and adding two assists, and exuded calmness in a solid performance.

The second was Manchester City starlet Alex Robertson, who decided to represent the Socceroos instead of a number of other interested nations. He also made history by following the footsteps of his father Mark and grandfather Alex to become the maiden third-generation Socceroos player, and was superb off the bench.

Their performances, as well as the composure and hard effort of the myriad other youngsters on display, showed plenty of promise in the Socceroos’ future, with an Asian Cup looming next January and qualification for the 2026 World Cup starting in November.

“Let’s give credit to Ecuador,” Arnold said.

“They’re a very good team, only missed out on going to the last 16 through goal difference at the World Cup. Obviously, they’ve got some quality, but the boys did fantastic in terms of sticking to the game plan.

“I’m extremely happy with Aiden O’Neil’s debut, and the young boys when they came on – but it’s these senior boys that are crucial to all, they’ve got to lead the way, and they did that very well.”

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Ecuador was the more threatening side in the opening minutes, with Michael Estrada sending an early shot from long range soaring into the stands.

And the South Americans, ranked 41st in the world, should have taken the lead in the 10th minute when Brighton star Moises Caicedo put the ball on a platter for an Jose Cifuentes at the back post – only for the unmarked Ecuador gun to head the ball tamely tp Mat Ryan.

The Socceroos made the visitors pay just a couple of minutes later. Craig Goodwin curled in a free kick to the back post and a desperate – and seemingly offside – Mitch Duke slid at full stretch to keep the ball in play, poking it back across the face of goal for Irvine to sweep home.

Ecuador earned a deserved equaliser 11 minutes later through a wide free kick of their own after Aziz Behich was caught out and brought down an attacker. After the initial cross was parried away, Jeremy Sarmiento sent the ball back in for Felix Torres to head home, having risen above Irvine and Milos Degenek.

But Australia hit back to take the lead once again through Awer Mabil in the 31st minute, with the Socceroos’ constant pressuring deep in Ecuador’s half paying off. Irvine made a brilliant lunging tackle near the edge of the Ecuador box, with the ball falling to Awer Mabil who rifled his shot into the roof of the net.

“There’s nothing more satisfying, sometimes, than scoring a goal from a high press in that kind of moment,” Irvine said.

Australia continued to pour forward as Mitch Duke became an unlikely source of technical trickery, the veteran forward flicking his way into the box and leaving a defender for dead before his shot from a close angle – and close range – was well blocked.

After the break, the breathless action seemed to settle or slow a fraction, though the end-to-end drama did not abate.

Ecuador continued to dominate possession, though Australia counter-attacked with more pace and directness. Mat Ryan was forced to punch a corner away, while Kye Rowles blocked a pair of shots.

Coach Graham Arnold turned to the bench at the hour mark, handing out a second midfield debut of the clash by bringing on Manchester City’s Alexander Robertson.

The Socceroos came close once again in the 72nd minute when another deep free kick was launched to the back post by Goodwin and nodded back across goal to Kye Rowles. But his shot was saved on the line with a desperate fling of the arm from Moises Ramirez.

As energy began to flag, both managers continued to turn to the benches. Garang Kuol replaced Craig Goodwin in the 78th minute, while Marco Tilio came on for Awer Mabil.

Mat Ryan was forced into a fine save with a powerful shot from close range at his near post in the 80th minute, but reacted well to parry it away and the corner was wasted.

Then in the 84th minute, Aziz Behich flooded the left flank on an inverted run – as he had all evening – and was rewarded as a crisp passing play from his teammates ended with the ball in his path, the veteran fullback racing through on goal.

He had all the time in the world to line up a shot as he cruised towards the goal, but instead opted to poke it across the face of goal for teen tyro Garang Kuol to poke home from five yards. Once again, there was plenty of suspicion that Kuol may have been offside, but there was no VAR to overturn the on-field decision.

Robertson went down in the box in stoppage time after contact from a defender, but the referee waved away his claims for a penalty. It sparked a melee as Harry Souttar intervened, but cooler heads prevailed as the final whistle blew shortly afterwards.

MATCH CENTRE: Live stats and more

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TEAMS

Socceroos XI (4-3-3): Mat Ryan; Milos Degenek, Kye Rowles, Harry Souttar, Aziz Behich; Keanu Baccus, Jackson Irvine, Aiden O’Neill; Awer Mabil, Mitchell Duke, Craig Goodwin.

Ecuador XI (4-3-3): Moises Ramirez; Angelo Preciado, Felix Torres, Piero Hincapie, Pervis Estupinan; Jhegson Mendez, Moises Caicedo, Jose Cifuentes; Angel Mena, Michael Estradea, Jeremy Sarmiento

LIVE BLOG

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